Denomination

Affirmation of Faith

As members of the Christian Church,

We confess that Jesus is the Christ, 
the Son of the living God,
and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world.

In Christ’s name and by his grace
we accept our mission of witness
and service to all people.

We rejoice in God, 
maker of heaven and earth,
and in the covenant of love 
which binds us to God and one another.

Through baptism into Christ
we enter into newness of life
and are made one with the whole people of God.

In the communion of the Holy Spirit
we are joined together in discipleship
and in obedience to Christ.

At the table of the Lord
we celebrate with thanksgiving
the saving acts and presence of Christ.

Within the universal church,
we receive the gift of ministry
and the light of scripture.

In the bonds of Christian faith
we yield ourselves to God
that we may serve the One
whose kingdom has no end.

Blessing, glory and honor
be to God forever. Amen.

-Preamble to the Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Statement of Identity

“The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a community of believers who through baptism into Jesus Christ are bound by covenant to God and one another.  Disciples draw their inspiration from Scripture and Holy Spirit, celebrating around the Lord’s Table the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Christ.  We proclaim the good news of salvation.  We claim as our particular witness the quest for Christian unity as a sign of God’s unity for the human community.  While stressing freedom and diversity under God, we believe unity and mission are inseparable; we witness and serve among the whole human family in the interest of peace, justice, mercy and kindness.”

-Adopted by Administrative

Mission

We believe God’s mission for the church is to be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing and serving from our doorsteps “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we believe God calls us to strengthen congregational life for this mission.

Chalice Symbol

Committee  February 1994

chalice

The red chalice, bearing the “X-shaped” cross of St. Andrew was adopted as the symbol of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by the denomination’s General Assembly in 1971. 

The chalice symbolizes the centrality of the Lord’s Supper to Disciples life. The St. Andrew’s Cross, the national cross of Scotland, focuses attention on the Scotch Presbyterian* roots of the church.  Thomas and Alexander Campbell, co-founders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), both studied in Scotland and were Presbyterians. St. Andrew has been identified with the laity and evangelism, prominent emphases of the Disciples over the years.

The red color of the chalice signifies vitality, spirit and sacrifice.  The chalice and St. Andrew’s Cross is a trademark registered with the United States Patent Office.

[Later usage is “Scottish.”  Writing in the mid-1800s, the Campbell’s referred the Presbyterian Church of Scotland as the “Scotch Presbyterian” church.]

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Find out more about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at it’s website.

disciples.org

We are a part of the Mid-America region which comprises most of the state of Missouri.
mid-americadisciples.org